Weekly Toll: Death in the Workplace

Another week of workers being killed in the workplace by being crushed, dying in falls, killed in traffic accidents, shot, stabbed and electrocuted. My rant this week is that the media often does not print the names of workers killed, pending notification of family, but then loses interest in the case once the family is notified.

Two killed after street-sweeping truck runs off I-77 in Charlotte

Charlotte, NC – Two Charlotte men died Sunday morning after their street-sweeping truck apparently slid off rain-slicked Interstate 77. Shortly before 7 a.m., a firefighter saw the wrecked truck on I-77 southbound near Sunset Road, according to the state Highway Patrol. The firefighter looked inside and saw the two victims. The truck had apparently run off the right side of the highway and slammed into trees several hours earlier, according to Highway Patrol Trooper Ray Pierce. The Highway Patrol said the accident appears to be weather-related, noting that an early morning downpour left area highways covered in water. The victims found along I-77 have been identified, but authorities are not releasing their names until their relatives are notified. They worked for Major Clean Inc., a private company that cleans parking lots for businesses, Pierce said.

VOSHA INVESTIGATING CRANE OPERATOR’S DEATH AT WIND PROJECT

SEARSBURG, VT— The Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the Tuesday death of a man at the Deerfield Wind construction site. David Sprague, 59, of Windham, Maine, was electrocuted when the crane he was operating came into contact with high-tension power lines, according to Vermont State Police. He was pronounced dead at the Putnam Road site shortly after 11 a.m.

Pottery worker dies in accident at job

Marshall, LA – An autopsy has been ordered in the death of a 42-year-old Marshall Pottery supervisor who died on the job this week in what’s being investigated as an industrial accident. Funeral services for Arturo Gonzalez of Marshall were Friday. Marshall Fire Chief Reggie Cooper said EMS units responded to Marshall Pottery to a report of a man who was stuck in a piece of equipment, possibly a kiln.

Virginia man killed in industrial accident

BONSACK, Va. — Officials say a 53-year-old worker was killed during a demolition project in Roanoke County. Concord-based W.E.L. Incorporated said in a statement that 53-year-old Charles McFadden of Appomattox was working on the project in Bonsack Thursday when he was killed in what the company called “an unfortunate, and tragic, industrial accident.”

COLUMBIA COUNTY, Ga. — The passengers of the taxi cab involved in a deadly crash on Wrightsboro Road are recovering in the hospital. Axel McLean and Irene Cangelosi were transported to Augusta University Medical Center for treatment. McLean is listed in good condition, and Cangelosi is listed in fair condition.The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office said the taxi driver, Monika Christa Lowe, died in the crash. Abraham Mohammad Mazhar was charged with failure to yield while turning left, vehicular homicide in the second degree, and marijuana possession Thursday and booked into jail.

Semi-Trailer Driver Dead in I-88 Shooting Near York

York, IL — A semi-trailer driver was shot on I-88 near York Friday afternoon [April 21] and later died at the hospital, Illinois State Police confirmed. Police were investigating near York at milepost 138.5, police said. One car and a red Volvo semi-truck were traveling eastbound about 4:05 p.m., police said. A man in the car shot “for unknown reasons” into the semi-truck driven by 43-year-old Eduardo Munoz, of Sunrise, Florida, police said. The Oak Brook Fire Department arrived on the scene and took Munoz to Elmhurst Hospital where he later died, police said.

Two Killed While Working in St. Louis Neighborhood

ST. LOUIS, MO – Two utility workers are dead, after being shot to death late Thursday morning [April 20] while working in a residential neighborhood. The incident happened in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood in north St. Louis, when a gunman opened fire on two Laclede Gas Company employees. St. Louis Police say the two employees were conducting utility work in the 5900 block of Minerva. Both employees were killed in the gunfire. The victims were identified Friday as Alex Boschert, 27, of St. Charles County and William Froelich, 52, of Jefferson County. Boschert was remembered as an outdoorsman and Froelich as a family man.

TRUCK DRIVER KILLED BY CRANE AT PORT OF HOUSTON

Houston, TX — The Barbers Cut Terminal at the Port of Houston closed for business after a truck driver was stuck and killed by a crane Thursday afternoon, according to police. A man died after he was hit with a rubber tyred gantry crane between 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m., said Port of Houston communications manager Lisa Ashley. The man was outside of his truck when the crane struck him, police say. The type of crane that killed the man operates inside the container, it’s not the same as the cranes that operate the ship vessels, noted Ashley.

Tractor driver killed in collision with train

NEAR KEYTESVILLE, Mo. — A northeast Missouri man was killed Thursday afternoon when the farm tractor he was driving was hit by a train. That fatal accident happened at 2:30 p.m. at Cal Hubbard Avenue, three-and-a-half miles east of Keytesville. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says William Thomson, 36, of Salisbury, Missouri, was driving a farm tractor when he failed to yield at a railroad crossing and was struck by the train.

Tractor incident at berry farm kills man in Somis

Somis, CA — The Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office identified on Friday a worker who was killed in a Somis farming accident a day earlier as Jose Lopez Lopez, 27, of Oxnard. Lopez died from blunt-force head injuries in the accident, the agency said. Lopez’s death was reported to authorities just after 9 a.m. Thursday at a berry farm in the 1000 block of West La Loma Avenue after his body was found underneath irrigation equipment he’d been towing with a tractor. Ventura County Fire Department paramedics pronounced Lopez dead at the scene, said Steve Swindle, a spokesman for the department. Lopez’s employer, Laguna Farms, held a memorial service for him at its Somis location Friday afternoon

Worker, 21, electrocuted at Shadyside house under renovation

PITTSBURGH, PA —A young man died after “being exposed to electricity” Thursday morning at a house in Shadyside, a Pittsburgh Public Safety spokeswoman said. The victim was identified as Dakota Marshall, 21, of Ford City. A neighbor on Morewood Avenue said masons were working on the home’s chimney, which is next to power lines. The scaffolding was so close to the electrical lines that Duquesne Light crews had to be called in to remove the scaffolding.

Man Fatally Injured in Well Tank Explosion Identified

MANSFIELD, La. (AP) — A man fatally injured in a well tank explosion in DeSoto Parish has been identified. The Times reports the accident happened around 11:46 a.m. Tuesday [April 18] in Mansfield. Authorities said a crew was working on the site, operated by Dallas-based Aethon Energy, to clean damage caused during a recent storm when one of the tanks on the site exploded, causing injuries to three of the crew members. In a statement Wednesday, Aethon Energy Co-President and partner Gordon Huddleston described the accident as “tragic” and said it occurred “while a contractor’s workers dismantled a tank.” The man who died was identified late Tuesday as Camron Anthony Hernandez of Diana, Texas, an unincorporated community in Upshur County. He was pronounced dead at DeSoto Regional Hospital. Two others were treated for moderate and minor injuries. Their names have not been released.

Fatal Lewiston construction accident

LEWISTON, N.Y. — A man was killed after working with construction equipment at St. Peter’s School Tuesday afternoon, Lewiston Police say. Police say Timothy Zayac, 57, of Lockport, was working on a lift in the eaves area of the building at 140 N. 6th Street around 1:50 p.m., when he became trapped between the lift and the building.

Worker fatally struck by falling tree on Independence Avenue near U.S. Capitol

Washington DC — A man doing work on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol was killed Tuesday morning when a large portion of a tree fell on him, officials said. The man was identified as Matthew McClanahan, a pipe fitter who worked in the maintenance division of the office of the Architect of the Capitol.

Construction worker killed near Livingston identified

Livingston, MT — The Park County Sheriff’s Office identified the construction worker killed in an apparent accident at a job site near Livingston. According to a news release, 52-year-old Kathleen Louise Lee of Troy was killed at a work site on Interstate 90 near Livingston on Monday afternoon. A driver at the site was backing up a vehicle and struck Lee, according to the sheriff’s office. While authorities said it appears to be a “terrible accident,” the Park County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating.

LOGAN COUNTY, Okla. — A suspect is in custody after fatally shooting a deputy Tuesday morning [April 18]. According to KOCO, Deputy David Wade, 40, was serving an eviction notice when Nathan Aaron LeForce, 45, opened fire. Officials told News9Okla.com that Wade was able to return fire, but didn’t clarify if LeForce was hit. Wade was transported to a local hospital with three gunshot wounds, including one to the face. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Man dies after being shocked while cutting tree branches in Chesapeake

CHESAPEAKE, Va. – A 39-year-old man who was shocked while trimming trees at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens on 3920 Airline Boulevard has died as a result of his injuries. Police have identified the victim as Muhammad Abdur-Raheem of Newport News. When emergency crews arrived, they saw Abdur-Raheem suspended in a tree. Officials say he hit a power line while cutting a tree and was shocked. The 39-year-old was taken to Maryview Medical Center with life threatening injuries where he later died. Lucas Tree Experts confirms with News 3 the man worked for the company just over a year and came in with six years of experience. The company says he was a good employee.

Worker dies when tree topples

Sonora, CA — A tree worker from Washington died Saturday [April 15] near Cedar Springs Road in Twain Harte after the ponderosa pine he was working on unexpectedly fell.The man was identified by as Jorge Garcia Moctezuma, 21, a Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office news release stated. Moctezuma was an employee of Action Trees, a Kentucky company contracted by Trees Inc. and PG&E. Moctezuma was working on a 100-foot pine tree and had cut a 20-foot section from the top. When the cut piece came down, it swung back and forth and caused the tree that Moctezuma was on to break below him. The tree fell to the ground with Moctezuma on it. It also knocked down live power lines.

2 men wanted after Detroit limo driver robbed, shot to death

DETROIT, MI- Detroit police continue the search for two men wanted for the robbery and murder of a limo driver. The shooting happened in the 2900 block of W Warren around 3:10 a.m. Saturday [April 15]. Police say two suspects approached 44-year-old Devin Lowe while he was in his limo and robbed him at gunpoint, then shot him several times. The suspects fled from the scene in an unknown direction.

SECURITY GUARD SHOT TO DEATH WHILE ON THE JOB IN NORTHWEST FRESNO

FRESNO, California — Security guard, retail store manager, and now murder victim. Carl Williams, 25-year-old, was identified by his coworkers as the man killed Thursday night. “I’ve really got to know Carl and he was a class act– there was no other way to put it,” said Robert Sanchez, coworker. The night of Williams’ murder company leaders said he was working at the Motel 6 to assist another officer– one of several locations he managed. Fresno Police said a couple who were not following the rules of the motel got into a fight with two security guards. The suspect shot Williams multiple times and killed him and police said that man is still on the run.

Emerson-Fisher employee killed in work accident

Marshalltown, IA — An Emerson Process Management-Fisher Controls official confirmed Monday [April 17] that a Marshalltown man died last week due to a fatal work accident. Employee Craig Petersen, 61, died Thursday, after being injured in an accident. The cause and nature of the accident are still under investigation.

Movie Theater Employee Fatally Stabbed Has Been ID’d

YONKERS, NY — The movie theater employee who was stabbed and later died of his wounds has been identified. Daij Asante Thomas, 19, was stabbed in the chest after a fight with an unidentified suspect at the Showcase Cinema De Lux at Ridge Hill in Yorkers, lohud.com said. The man approached Thomas, a Yonkers resident, and a dispute happened and then the stabbing, police said. Thomas may have known his attacker, who was described as about 20 years old, black, thin, male and about 6 feet tall.

2 Comments

I haven’t read this kind of report before I found them here. I am surprised at how many deaths are caused by firearms. Perhaps the outgoing Surgeon General was on to something when he described gun violence as a public health issue.